Guido Bonatus or Guido Bonatti and His Comments About the Weakness of the Moon by Norah Nasturas

Article by Norah Kitchener, Canada

Guido BONATUS – Medieval Astrologer – We don’t know really his date of birth, or death, we know was between 1296 and 1300, but he was probably born around 1207 and died sometime before 1296. He was an Italian astronomer and astrologer.  His name was Bonatus or Bonatti, was living in North of Italy, and in the cities of Florence, Siena, Forli near Ravenna and Bologna. The only documentation is that he was the winner of a dispute in the city of Bologna, Italy,  with Giovanni Schio from Vicenza, about if Astrology is or not a Science.

He wrote his book “ Liber Astonomiae” around 1277, he was advisor of Frederick II. Dante Alighieri in his work “The Divine Comedy” put him in Hell, the eighth Circle, fourth Ring, the Fortune Tellers and Diviners to punish for his works in Astrology.

The only sure date we find in the “Book of Astronomy” is when he says “that Mars was in Taurus, which would place the battle in March or April, 1276.

We knows that at the end of his life took the Franciscan Habit, as was published in Franciscan Studies in 1924 under Science in the Franciscan Order: a historical sketch” by John M. Lenhart, O.F.M. Cap. Lenhart, where he says: “The celebrated physicist, astronomer and astrologer, Guido Bonatti (d. 1296), a Friar Minor, drew scholars to his professional chair from all parts of Europe. He wrote Theoria Planetarum (printed at Venice, 1506) and Liber Astronomicus. Fray Guido is recorded as having belonged to the Franciscan fraternity in Bologna, and probably died in 1298.

In the year 1228, was the time after Frederick II, leader of the Sixt Crusade, begins negotiations with Islam and crowns himself King of Jerusalem, and of course was very common the exchanges between the 2 cultures, Christian and Islam about all kind of Scientific subjects as Mathematic, Astronomy, Astrology, Geometry, Medicine, etc  Then I think, for the astrologers in Italy, and Europe was very easy to have contact with Arabic Astrologers. I believe at this time in the University of Bologna was a Center to learn Astrological Medicine, probably since around 1200.  We don’t know really when or how he died; the general idea is around 1296-1298

This few words about Guido Bonatti before to give you here, some indications about how work with the Moon in relation with Bonatti’s indication to applied in the Horary, Natal, Progression, Events or other Astrological charts.

BONATI Guido – (1277) Comments about WHEN we need to consider the MOON WEAK.

1. Moon is combust, from 15 degrees of the Sun when applicant and 12 degrees of the Sun when separant. When she is 5 degrees from the Sun is said to be escaped, but not completely free.
2. The degrees of FALL: 3 * Scorpio the worst, but all the sign of Scorpio and Capricorn, when is conjoint with a planet who is in his fall or conjoint with the Sun in Scorpio or Capricorn or Aquarius or Libra.
3. When is conjoint with Mars.
4. When is in the 12 degrees opposite to whatever degree where the Sun is positioned.
5. Conjunction or opposition with Saturn or Mars, without the help or reception from other planet.
6. The conjunction with Saturn in Aries or Gemini where Moon has Term and Triplicate will be not too bad.
7. When conjoint with Mars in the last 10 degrees of Pisces, where Mars has the Decan and in a term of Saturn
8. In conjunction with the Dragon’s tail, 12 degrees before and after, because Moon is eclipsed there.
9. In Gemini because is the 12 sign of Taurus
10. When the Moon is at the end of the signs, except in Leo, because Jupiter is exalted there.
11. And Not in Cancer, because is her own sign where she is strong.
12. Moon is weak when in the 6H, 8H, 9H and 12H when is not in relation with the Ascendant or with Benefic
13. Moon is not too much affected in the 3H, because is says is her joy.
14. When in the Combust way: 15* Libra to 15* Scorpio.
15. When void of course, no relation with other planet, by conjunction or aspect, Moon is Feral not dignity that all.
16. When moon is slow in her course, the effect is similar to a Retrograde planet.
17. When the end of the lunar month, when we don’t see in the sky or only a little.
18. When in relation with the 2 Infortunes: Mars or Saturn…
19. When in Azimene degrees.
20. When in Pitted degrees
21. When Smoked degrees.

About Author: Professional Astrologer since 1978 and Tarot teacher since 1981. She has studied Astrology with Guy Jurdan in France, as well as Mme Emery and Mme Mars in Geneva, and Alexander Ruperti in Lausane Switzerland. Dinorah is currently teaching Astrology and Tarot in Canada and working with a group of psychologists in Geneva, Switzerland applying Astrology knowledge to find in young children and babies cause of personality’s trouble. She regularly receive request for consultations, especially from Italy, France, Brasil, Uruguay- South America, USA, Canada and Switzerland via phone, fax or email, countries where she was living and traveling.